Friday, October 31, 2008

Serie Week 9 Wrap-up

1-2 CHIEVO VERONA vs SS LAZIOMantovani’s late second half own goal gave a three away points to Lazio. Earlier, Pellissier had diven a hope of posting only their second win of the season with the opener after 11 minutes, but Goran Pandev levelled things up. The win lifts the Rome-based side up to sixth in the Serie A table, just four points behind joint-leaders Udinese and Napoli. Lazio came into the match with two successive defeats. In the 11th minute Simone Bentivoglio put in a cross from the left and Pellissier left keeper Juan Pablo Carrizo with no chance with his left-footed finish. Lazio were level just three minutes later though as FYR Macedonia forward Pandev was played through by Mauro Zarate and finished past Stefano Sorrentino.

1-2 FC BOLOGNA vs JUVENTUS FCNedved double strike pulled Juventus back into the top 10 by beating Bologna 2-1. Juventus were just too strong to Bologna who lives wrong place in the table. Veteran Czech midfielder Nedved opened the scoring after 12 minutes and added a deflected second after 57 minutes. Former Juventus striker Marco Di Vaio pulled one back with 16 minutes to go but the home side could not find an equaliser.

0-2 CATANIA CALCIO vs UDINESE CALCIOUdinese dream run continues as a goal in each half gave them victory over Catania and to stay at the top of the table for one more week. Alexis Sanchez set the visitors on their way in the 13th minute before Fabio Quagliarella sealed the points seven minutes from time.

0-0 AC FIORENTINA vs INTER MILANIn Florence Inter were held to a goal-less draw from Fiorentina. As the match ends it was a fair result and even Fiorentina pilled up the late pressure to grab a late winner. Inter coach Jose Mourinho kept faith with Victor Obinna and Dejan Stankovic in his starting line-up with Ricardo Quaresma and Olivier Dacourt warming the bench. Cesare Prandelli, had to do without injured star striker Adrian Mutu. Pablo Osvaldo was handed a start in Mutu's absence while Manuel Pasqual came in for Juan Vargas at left-back. The result sees the Nerazzurri slip down to fourth, two points behind league-leaders Udinese and Napoli while Fiorentina move up to fifth.

2-1 GENOA vs CAGLIARIA narrow win over Cagliari kepts Genoa 100% home record intact. Sokratis Papastathopoulos put the home side ahead in the 25th minute and Thiago Motta made it two in the 55th. But Gian Piero Gasperini's side were made to sweat when Paolo Bianco pulled a goal back in the 66th minute before a red card for Cagliari's Michele Fini in the 76th minute all but ended their hopes of snatching an equaliser. The win - Genoa's fifth in five games at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris - lifts the Rossoblu up to seventh place, just four points behind leaders Udinese.

1-1 LECCE vs US PALERMOEdison Cavani's last-gasp goal rescued a point against 10-man Lecce on Wednesday and Palermo coach Ballardini will be breathing a little easier. Before this match Palermo were with two defeats in a row and must have been thinking for the worst when Lecce took the lead in the first half from Cacia. However, the turning point of the match occurred in the 75th minute when Guillermo Giacomazzi was sent off for two yellow cards and Palermo made the man advantage count as they levelled matters three minutes from time.

2-1 AC MILAN vs SIENAInzaghi and Kaka goal gave Milan their fourth successive win in Serie A. Filippo Inzaghi put the home side in front in the 31st minute before Simone Vergassola levelled matters shortly after the interval. But Kaka ensured the Rossoneri claimed all the points firing from the spot in the 65th minute. And this win gave then the third spot in the table and a point ahead of Inter. Siena, who were left three points clear of the drop zone, were unlucky not to come away with something from the match as they put in a battling performance. Ancelotti made changes to the team that narrowly beat Atalanta in Bergamo on Sunday, with Alexandre Pato and Inzaghi replacing Ronaldinho and Marco Borriello up front.

3-0 NAPOLI vs REGGINARock bottom side Reggina were hammered down by Napoli and from one man German Denis who scored emphatic hattrick. This win gave Napoli to remain joint top of the table. Denis grabbed his first of the game after just seven minutes and doubled his tally less than 10 minutes later, before completing his hat-trick shortly after the hour mark. Napoli are level on 20 points with Udinese - two points clear of Internazionale - while Reggina remain bottom of the pile. Reggina were keen to avoid a fifth straight away defeat but suffered the worst

2-1 TORINO vs ATALANTAIn the second half and three minute thriller gave a three goals. Torino eased the pressure on coach Gianni De Biasi with a battling win at home to Atalanta on Wednesday night. Two goals in three second-half minutes from Nicola Amoruso and Roberto Stellone gave the hosts the edge and, although Sergio Floccari's reply ensured a nervy finish, Toro held on for only their second win of the campaign.